Rho Kappa National Honors Society Inducts New Members

The fifth induction ceremony for Hamden Hall’s chapter of Rho Kappa, the National Social Studies Honor Society, featured the installment of 17 Upper School students by advisor Dr. Lisa Hill.

“Rho Kappa allows students to share their passion for history and social studies while performing acts of community service,” said Dr. Hill, who serves as the Director of Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity and chairs the History Department. “It is not just recognition of the excellence of students, but it also applauds their concern for humanity and their dedication to making the world a better place.

 

The newly inducted members for the 2022-2023 academic year include juniors Andrew Kortmansky, Helen Gerber, Alex Puhl, Daniel Vining, Daniela McGovern, Alexandra Garvey, Patrick Cucchiarelli, and Analiese Driscoll; and sophomores Casey Armstrong, Mason Rickey, Janessa White, Jaden Rossi, Olivia Rong, Anabel Beatty, Leo Southam, Ayla Kirmani, and Mathias Vieth.

 

The induction ceremony took place on campus with guests including Head of School Bob Izzo, Director of Admissions Janet Izzo, outgoing chapter members, and newly inducted members and their parents. Following the ceremony, students and their parents walked over to the cafeteria for dinner and refreshments.

 

Head of School Bob Izzo offered remarks at the ceremony and noted that the study of social studies and history, arguably, teach us the most about ourselves and the world we live in. He said such subjects help us understand how the world works through the lens of a social scientist, analyzing different aspects of societies.

"Stay informed, take the time to explore, and analyze issues from multiple viewpoints, look for ways to find common ground, do not be afraid to be a thoughtful critic, and continue to work to make the world a better place," said Mr. Izzo.

 

Senior and outgoing chapter president Lucy Xu welcomed the new inductees and spoke on the importance of the society oath noting “the humanities and history helps us understand who we are and where we've been to inform our future.”

 

The selection process for Rho Kappa includes meeting the required grades in social studies courses and an ability to talk about complex humanities-related topics. Once selected, students are expected to uphold the Rho Kappa values of truth, knowledge, wisdom, and service.

 

“Rho Kappa students pledge a commitment to truth, knowledge, wisdom, and service. This demonstrates their willingness to approach the world with greater critical thinking skills and contextual knowledge,” said Dr. Hill. “I feel good knowing that our students will be able to have intelligent conversations about what is going on in and around them.”